Serious treatment error Female doctor cut baby into the neck at birth

Serious allegations against the British health authority

Currently, a case in the British media is causing a stir, during which a female doctor accidentally cut a baby's neck during childbirth. The newborn did not survive the severe wound. The experienced doctor was suspended from the service. Recently, her hearing began in front of a medical tribunal. The media and human rights organizations also make serious allegations against the UK health authorities (NHS). The baby's traumatized family took legal action against the NHS for medical negligence.

Dr. Vaishnavy Vilvanathan Laxman is accused of several serious mistakes while working at Ninewells Hospital in the Scottish town of Dundee. In March 2014, according to British media reports, she was responsible for the fact that a baby died during the birth. Hearings are currently taking place in front of the medical tribunal "Medical Practical Tribunal Service". The doctor is accused that despite complications, she continued with a natural birth rather than having to practice a significantly safe Caesarean section. She also failed to give the mother pain-relieving medication. The hearings are expected to last until 5 June 2018.

There is currently a hearing on a tragic case in which a female doctor accidentally killed a baby during childbirth. (Image: GordonGrand / fotolia.com)

Difficult birth

According to British media reports, the child was breech-exposed, had a low heart rate and a protruding umbilical cord. Under these conditions, there is an increased risk of the baby becoming trapped during childbirth. Nevertheless, the doctor decided to have a vaginal delivery and thus ignored a variety of medical complications, indicating that a caesarean section would have been safer.

Tragic accident

Ultimately, Laxmann accidentally cut the baby's neck with a pair of scissors during childbirth, causing the child to die. The doctor is accused that she allegedly had not received the consent of the mother for a vaginal delivery and took one or more cervical cuts without proper care.

NHS is in the criticism

The National Health Service in the UK has been criticized for the case of a constant flood of complaints. Cuts, privatizations, incompetence and negligence have made such a botched birth possible. Amid growing concerns about funding for the NHS, British Prime Minister Theresa May has pledged to present a long-term financing plan that will increase resources.

Are the English health authorities overloaded?

The international news agency "Sputnik" reports that many health experts believe that the NHS has an impoverished infrastructure and that it can no longer meet the requirements. "We've seen hospitals overburdened, people are dying in corridors," says Sam Fairbairn of the human rights organization "The People's Assembly" to Sputnik. The government is doing nothing to remedy this crisis.

Even the lawyer of the affected family criticized the NHS

The family's lawyer said he had negotiated a solution with the NHS, but criticized the health chiefs for having spent too much time solving this problem. More than two years later, the prosecution said that, after allegedly careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, there would be no criminal or fatal accident investigation. (Vb)